Children's Mental Health

As part of Minnesota’s comprehensive children's mental health system established under sections Minnesota Statutes 245.487 to 245.4889, Washington County provides services to ensure a children's mental health service system is available and consistent with the Minnesota law, rule, and available resources.

General Target Population

Youth 0 -17 years old, with a severe emotional disorder (as defined by Minnesota statute). Under some circumstances, through age 20, via approved transition planning.

Goals

Improve and support the maximum level of functioning for children and adolescents with a severe emotional disorder

Increase the level of safety for communities and families with children and adolescents with a severe emotional disorder

Increase the effectiveness and integration of services that are community based and culturally competent for children and adolescents with severe emotional disorders

Children's Mental Health Case Management Services

Washington County Community Services contracts with Canvas Health to provide Children's Mental Health Case Management services. These services are intended to assist children and youth (to age 18 and in some circumstances to age 21) with a severe emotional disturbance. Please click on the link below for more information.

For purposes of eligibility for case management and family community support services, "child with severe emotional disturbance" means a child who has an emotional disturbance and who meets one of the following criteria as determined by a mental health professional:

The child has been admitted within the last three years or is at risk of being admitted to inpatient treatment or residential treatment for an emotional disturbance

The child is a Minnesota resident and is receiving inpatient treatment or residential treatment for an emotional disturbance through the interstate compact; or

The child has one of the following as determined by a mental health professional: psychosis or a clinical depression, risk of harming self or others as a result of an emotional disturbance, or psychopathological symptoms as a result of being a victim of physical or sexual abuse or of psychic trauma within the past year

The child, as a result of an emotional disturbance, has significantly impaired home, school, or community functioning that has lasted at least one year or that, in the written opinion of a mental health professional, presents substantial risk of lasting at least one year.